Gizmodo, which is at odds with Apple because of its expose on the found iPhone prototype, is pushing a petition on its Web site and on Facebook calling for the free cases. So far, there are more than 1,900 people on Facebook who “like” the petition and another 1,100 people who have signed the Gizmodo petition through the comments section.

The whole thing started when users began noticing that their reception would drop off when they held their iPhone 4, covering the bottom left hand corner of the device. The issue came down to the antennas of the iPhone, which were built into the stainless steel metal band ringing the device.

By holding the left bottom corner where the two antennas meet, users were able to cause attenuation, where their hand absorbs the radio energy from the iPhone 4. Many people haven’t experienced this but a significant number have reported degraded cellular reception.

Apple responded by saying that all phones suffer from this issue to some degree. But if users encounter the problem, they should hold their phone differently or purchase a case. Apple coincidentally began selling bumper guards for its iPhone for the first time with the iPhone 4 for $29.

It’s unclear if Apple will go for the free bumper giveaway. Many users can’t replicate the problem. And it’s unclear how many people are signing just to get a freebie or stick it to Apple.

But by acknowledging the issue, Apple has opened itself up to these demands.

“If Apple doesn’t fix this design flaw or provides any technical fix, then they must give free bumpers to every iPhone 4 user,” wrote Gizmodo on the petition. “If they say the bumper fixes a problem that is caused by a faulty design, then it only makes sense that they should provide the bumper for free. End of the story.”

What do you think? Free bumper or no? Or have we just completely flogged this story to death, in which case please disregard.

UPDATE: Valleywag is reporting that Sacramento law firm Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff is exploring a class action lawsuit against Apple and is looking for people who have experienced “poor reception quality, dropped calls and weak signals,” on the new iPhone. This is the same law firm that filed a federal class action suit against Facebook and Zynga for allegedly deceptive ads in games.